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Can somebody explain what problems tourists are creating? I live in Toronto and was surprised to hear that the population doubles during the summer, because of

Can somebody explain what problems tourists are creating? I live in Toronto and was surprised to hear that the population doubles during the summer, because of a large number of tourists. Having spent most of my life here, and some of it right next to the biggest tourist attractions - I never thought any of it was a problem. It hasn't affected my quality of life in any way that I'm aware of.

aarroyoc 8y ago
The tourist hell mostly affects European cities, which at the same time are usually denser and have a more problematic transport. In some European cities, native people can't pay the rent to live in reasonable places because tourists will pay more. This has been a problem in Spain (Barcelona & Madrid) and both municipalities are working on it, but it's difficult. At the same time, a lot of stores became tourist specific. In the end, you have two cities at the same time, the old and beautiful for tourists, and an outside city for native people, which native people who lived and worked in the old city, don't like.
- mrep 8y ago
  > The tourist hell mostly affects European cities, which at the same time are usually denser and have a more problematic transport. In some European cities, native people can't pay the rent to live in reasonable places because tourists will pay more. Interesting, as a born and raised American, I find it odd that I keep seeing people praise europe about how great their public transportation and living wages are and yet you claim both suddenly fail when you get some tourists who spend money in your town?
  - yifanl 8y ago
    Obviously, the public transportation system was implemented based on the number of local residents. I imagine that the influx of tourists is well above that number.
    - mrep 8y ago
      Do european cities change population sizes that little that you never really have to adapt your public transportation?
pythonista-82 8y ago
Edinburgh born and resident here, our city centre has become a tourist only zone with tartan tat shops, overpriced restaurants and during August (The Fringe) it’s pretty much impossible to move through town due to the amount of people in this small city. There aren’t really any “locals” in the centre any more as most of the flats have been bought up for AirBnB or student flats. AirBnB flats are notorious as “stag party flats” here, their landlords regularly receive complaints from the few who still live in town. The AirBnB landlords are now expanding into traditionally working class areas, as available housing stock in the centre is astronomically expensive...so it’s hard for young people without a deposit to get on the housing ladder. Our rent market is already through the roof due to the popularity of Edinburgh as a place to live now, so it has driven families out. From a city we used to describe as more like a “village” it’s become a depressingly alien place with transient residents.
- Ftuuky 8y ago
  It's exactly the same thing in Lisbon.

aarroyoc 8y ago

The tourist hell mostly affects European cities, which at the same time are usually denser and have a more problematic transport. In some European cities, native people can't pay the rent to live in reasonable places because tourists will pay more. This has been a problem in Spain (Barcelona & Madrid) and both municipalities are working on it, but it's difficult. At the same time, a lot of stores became tourist specific. In the end, you have two cities at the same time, the old and beautiful for tourists, and an outside city for native people, which native people who lived and worked in the old city, don't like.

mrep 8y ago
> The tourist hell mostly affects European cities, which at the same time are usually denser and have a more problematic transport. In some European cities, native people can't pay the rent to live in reasonable places because tourists will pay more. Interesting, as a born and raised American, I find it odd that I keep seeing people praise europe about how great their public transportation and living wages are and yet you claim both suddenly fail when you get some tourists who spend money in your town?
- yifanl 8y ago
  Obviously, the public transportation system was implemented based on the number of local residents. I imagine that the influx of tourists is well above that number.
  - mrep 8y ago
    Do european cities change population sizes that little that you never really have to adapt your public transportation?

pythonista-82 8y ago

Edinburgh born and resident here, our city centre has become a tourist only zone with tartan tat shops, overpriced restaurants and during August (The Fringe) it’s pretty much impossible to move through town due to the amount of people in this small city. There aren’t really any “locals” in the centre any more as most of the flats have been bought up for AirBnB or student flats. AirBnB flats are notorious as “stag party flats” here, their landlords regularly receive complaints from the few who still live in town. The AirBnB landlords are now expanding into traditionally working class areas, as available housing stock in the centre is astronomically expensive...so it’s hard for young people without a deposit to get on the housing ladder. Our rent market is already through the roof due to the popularity of Edinburgh as a place to live now, so it has driven families out. From a city we used to describe as more like a “village” it’s become a depressingly alien place with transient residents.

Ftuuky 8y ago
It's exactly the same thing in Lisbon.